If you’ve been watching the Perfect Human Specimen Awards aka the Winter Olympics you’re surely familiar with Adam Rippon, the team USA figure skater who is deservedly stealing the show, and providing an endless stream of internet-ready content for NBC and its commentators.
Rippon, who grew up in Scranton, Pennsylvania (yes, along with Michael Scott) is a world class figure skater blah blah blah. He’s also one of the first two openly gay Winter Olympians from the United States. And while he was certainly born to skate, he was also born to be interviewed about skating. This is not an NBA athlete who's had PR coaching since he got out of high school. His interviews and tweets surrounding the Olympics, and Vice President Mike Pence, have been more exciting than any of the curling events (no offense to curling). I think it's safe to say that Rippon represents exactly what is so great about this country. (Seriously, how many other athletes are skating to make Reese Witherspoon proud?)
Herewith, a few of our favorite Rippon quotes thus far...
- "I was recently asked in an interview what its like to be a gay athlete in sports. I said that it’s exactly like being a straight athlete. Lots of hard work but usually done with better eye brows." (@Adaripp) December 28, 2017
- "But honestly, at this point in my life, if they said, "Here's your opening ceremony outfit," and then handed me a piece of rope and some broken sticks and a trash bag, I'd be like, "IT'S GORGEOUS. I'LL MAKE IT WORK." on his fashion choices at the Olympics.
- "The REAL one for I did for TV says 'my mom' but, like, I needed this one for myself because it was the first thing that actually popped in my head and I thought I was so funny." — Adam Rippon (@Adaripp) February 5, 2018
- “I'm like a witch! You can't kill me! I keep coming back every year, and every year I get better!" Rippon told NBC's Andrea Joyce.
- In an Instagram story where he ranted about the free condoms at the Olympics, he said, “Like, I’m not entirely sure what I was expecting. I thought maybe they’d have like Olympic rings on them or they’d be all different colors, but, no. It’s all a myth. And I’m not, like, upset, I’m disappointed.”
- In an interview with NBC, he declared his hopes for making America's sweetheart proud. “There are so many emotions when I step on the ice. I want to represent my country to the best of my abilities. I want to make Reese Witherspoon proud.”
- Last night, in a post-skate interview with Mike Tirico, he had this gem to share about his nerves: "I want to throw up. I want to go over to the judges and say 'Can I just have a Xanax and a quick drink. I'll be fine.' But I kept it together. I just took it one element at a time."
- "While you were busy being heterosexual, I studied the blade." —Adam Rippon (@Adaripp), January 24, 2018
